Stock handling device

Abstract

A cradle is shaped to receive and support an animal in an inverted position; the cradle is pivotally mounted on a frame for rotation about a first substantially horizontal axis which coincides with one side of the cradle and latching means are mounted on the frame for holding the cradle in a horizontal position; the latching means may be released to permit the cradle to rotate about the first horizontal axis to discharge the animal therefrom, and animal tipping means receive an animal and may be rotated about a second substantially horizontal axis to an inverted position to discharge the animal into the cradle in an inverted position. The tipping means have two opposed side walls and a floor, one side wall is fixed lying adjacent the cradle; the other side wall is remote from the cradle and may be moved inwardly from an outermost position to clamp an animal within the tipping means against the one side wall during the rotation of the animal tipping means to a discharge position. The tipping means is also provided with gate means at the entry thereof and can be closed upon an animal entering the tipping means to prevent animals backing therefrom. The gate means is adapted to open when an animal is tipped from the tipping means.

I claim: 
     
       1. A stock handling device comprising: (a) a cradle shaped to receive and support an animal in an inverted position, the cradle being pivotally mounted on a frame for rotation about a first substantially horizontal axis coinciding with one side of the cradle;   (b) latching means mounted on the frame for holding the cradle in a horizontal position, the latching means being releasable to permit the cradle to rotate about the first horizontal axis to discharge the animal therefrom; and   (c) animal tipping means rotatable on said frame and having an entry to receive an animal and capable of being rotated about a second substantially horizontal axis to an inverted position to discharge the animal into the cradle in an inverted position, the tipping means having two opposed side walls and a floor, one of said side walls being fixed lying adjacent the cradle, the other of said side walls being remote from the cradle and movable inwardly from an outermost position to clamp an animal within the tipping means against the one of said side walls during the rotation of the animal tipping means to a discharge position, said tipping means also being provided with gate means at the entry thereof and closeable upon an animal entering the tipping means to prevent animals backing therefrom, said gate means being adapted to open upon an animal being tipped from the tipping means.   
     
     
       2. A stock handling device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the cradle is biassed to the substantially horizontal position by a counter balancing means between the frame and cradle, the biassing force being such that the weight of the sheep in the cradle will counter the biassing force. 
     
     
       3. A stock handling means as claimed in claim 1 wherein the race in which the tipping means is located is subdivided into a series of stations, each station having associated with it a gate means which will close upon an animal entering the station to prevent the animal moving backwards along the race. 
     
     
       4. A stock handling device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the cradle is substantially U-shaped in transverse cross-section such that the sides thereof slope upwardly and outwardly to wedgingly receive an animal's back, and wherein the cradle is additionally curved upwardly at either end thereof to support the head and hindquarters of the animal in the cradle. 
     
     
       5. A stock handling device as claimed in claim 1 further comprising counter balancing means for biasing the cradle to the substantially horizontal position, said counter balancing means being disposed between the frame and cradle, and having a biasing force for the weight of the animal in the cradle to counter the biasing force. 
     
     
       6. A stock handling device as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a race having a length, the tipping means being located in the length of the race. 
     
     
       7. A stock handling device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the rotatable mounting of the tipping means to the frame is located on the side wall adjacent the cradle. 
     
     
       8. A stock handling device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the animal tipping means is located alongside the cradle with a space formed therebetween and wherein the cradle is pivotable in the direction of the tipping means to deposit the animal in said space upon said latching means being released. 
     
     
       9. A stock handling device as claimed in claim 6 wherein the race in which the tipping means is located is subdivided into a series of stations, each station having associated therewith gate means closeable upon an animal entering the station to prevent the animal moving backwards along the race. 
     
     
       10. A stock handling device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said tipping means is provided with a floor pivotally mounted to said tipping means along one edge thereof, said floor being movable between uppermost and lowermost positions, and biased to occupy the uppermost position for the floor to pivot to the lowermost position upon an animal entering the tipping means, said floor being operatively connected to said gate means at the entry of the tipping means to maintain the gate means open when in the uppermost position and closed when in the lowermost position.